Automatic gun.



m6. 696,306. Patented Mar. 25,v |962. L. v. BENT & H. A. mancl.

AUTMATIC GUN.

(Application led May 2, 1899.)

I6 sheets-sheet 4.

(llo Model.)

. Ww. 11| i H .Uhm A. n mlwv IIIMIMWM; \\`\U\\\\\\\\\\\\\5 .u t f No. 696,366. Patented Mar. 25, |902. L. v. BENT a H. A. mEncl.

Au'TonAnc aun.

(Applicatian led Hay, 2, 1899,)

16 sheets- Sheet 2.

(Ilo Model.)

6. 696,306. & Patented mar. 25, |902.

' L. v. BENT a H. A. MERGI.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application med may 2, 1599.)

I6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Indel.) i

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ENo. 696,305. Patented Mar. 25,V |902.

L.'v. BENET a H. A'. mEncl.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application led May 2, 1899.) V (Mmm.) ls sheets-#sheet 4.

y celwyeM-o/cs Patented Mar. 25, i902.

L. v. BENT & H. A. MEncl..

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NIL 696,306.

, 1- Patented Mar. 25,1902. L.'v. Bl-:NT a. H. A. MEncl. l

AUTOMATIC GUN.

' (Application tiled Hay 2, 1899.) um Mmm.) ls sheets-sheet 7.

m. 696,306. Patented Mar. 25, |902.

L. v. BENT & H. A. MERm.

AUTOMATIC lGMINI.

Application med may 2, 1699.)

I6 sheets-sheet s.

' (llo Model.)

...Ill/

l woewtoz :N o. esoe. Patented Mar. 25, |902.

L. v. BENT &'H. A, MEncl. AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application led May 2, 1B9`9.) V

(No Model.) I6 Sheets-Sheet 9.

Patented Mar. 25, |902. L. v. Bx-:NT & H. A. MEncl.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application f11ed- May 2, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 25,1962. L. 'v. BENT & H. A. MERCI.

AUTOMATIC Gun.

(Application led May 2, 1899.)'

I6 Sheets-Sheet I2.

(.No Model.)

wi [meme-6 Mw No. 696,306. Patented Mar. 25, |902.

L. v. BENT a H. A. MEncl.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Appximion med may 2, 1999.)

(No Model.) I6- Sheets-Sheet |3.

2z @Q37 www@ @kreunt/13 3,

Patented Mar. 25, |902. L. v. BENT 6 H. A. MERcl.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.)

I6 Sheets-Sheet I4.

(No Model.)

an ua wkm l l 7a- SKMMQ Q4. j

l C1 Heaney S Patehfea mar. 25, |902. L. v. BENT 6 H. A. MERGI;

AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application led May 2, 1899.)

I6 Sheets-Sheet l5.

( Ilo Model.)

.No.,aasoa Patented Mar. 25,A |902.

L.'v. BENT & H. A.`M|:nc||i:.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

(A ppl'ication med may 2. 1899.) @no Model.) assheetsheez ls.'

1f/MINIMUM! UNITED STATES t PATENT OFFICE.

LAlVRENCE V. BENE'PLAND HENRI A. MER-CIE, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent N0. 696,306, dated March 25, 1902.

Application lod Huy 2.1899.. Serial No. 715.342. cNo model-l l i) 1177, 4n-/1 om, 'it Hwy/concerne lio it known that we, LAWRENCE V. BENT, a citizen ofthe United States, and HENRI A. MERCI, a citizen of the `French Republic, both residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guns; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others'skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in that class of guns in lwhich a portion of the gas developed by the explosionv of the powder charge is utilized for operating the breech mechanism of the arm, and more particularlyV to that class in Awhich a'motor-piston inper petual engagement with a power-accum ulator vis operated by thc gases resulting from the explosion. It is evident, however, that the mechanism about to be described may be applied, in whole or in part, to guns operated' by any well-known mechanical means.

The obJect of our invention is t'o produce a `simple and efficient mechanism whereby when a certain part thereof is given' a reciprocating motion by the action of the powdergas acting in one direction and a-spring acting in the opposite direction or by other mechanical means all the operations of loading, tiring, extracting, ejecting, and cocking are automatically performed and in proper sequence. s

Further objects of our invention are to prolvide means whereby the gun may be tired continuonsly or intermittently at the willof the operator and to so formali parts of the mechanism that the same may be dismounted and assembled without the use of tools. Y

In pursuance of these ends our invention consists in the manuel' of reinforcing the barrel by means'of the breech-housing and of securing it therein; -in the manner of securing' the breech-housing to the receiver; in the manner of s towing the mains ring or poweraccumulat'oj'; in the maunero connecting thel cartridges are broughtto the loading position without the interposition ofvfeed mechanism; in the method of locking-the feed-strip when advanced by the piston-and of locking the piston in the cocked position on the exhaustion of the feed-strip; in the method of unlocking and withdrawing the cartridge from the feed-strip when in the loading position; in the structural features and manner of imparting motion to the ejector; in the structural features -and combinations oi' the various elements of the tiring-gear, whereby continuons or intermittent ire may be delivered or the mechanism locked against the danger of actures and combinations of various other cooperative parts, as hereinafter described.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, inv which the same parts are indicated by the same letters views.

the improved gun, the barrel being broken away and parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and looking down. Figs. 1 and 2 thebreech-block is shown inthe rear or .open position. Fig. `3 represents a 'section similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that thL/breech-block is in the front or closed position. Fig. 4 represents'a section similar to that shown in Fig. 3, except'that the breechblock is in theA front or closed position.,;;f.l"ig. 5 represents a section along the line5 5 of Figs. 1 and 2 and looking toward the breech of the'gun. Fig. 6 represents asection along the line (i dof Figs. 1 and 2 and looking toward the breech of the gun. Fig. 7 represents a central vertical section through the casing.

of Fig. 7 andA looking down. Fig. J is a side elevation of the casing-as detached from the gun. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 1l is a view of the casing'shown in Figs. 9 and 10 looking toward the realof the gun, parts being broken away.. Fig. 12 piston along the line 12 12 of Figs. S35 and 26 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the feed-trough detached from the, gun. Fig. l-l is a plan view of the feed-trough shown in Fig, 13.

Acidental discharge, and in the structu ral fea- F throughout the several Figure 1 is a centralvertical section through Fig. 8 represents a'section along the line 8 8 represents a transverse section of the roo :z the direction of the arrows.

35 'direction of the arrows.

4o in place.

5o ejecting empty or unexploded shell.

6o lever.

to be used in the gun.

Fig. represents a section from, the, feed I Atrough along the line 15 15 of Figs. 13 and 14 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 16 is a section, on the same line as that 5 shown in Fig. 15,' but looking in the opposite direction. Fig. 17 represents a transverse section -across the feed-trough along the line 17 17 of Fig. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 1.8 is an elevation of the rear io end of the breech-piece detached from the gun. Fig. 1li-represents a section along the line 19 19 of Fig. 18 and looking down. 'Fig. 20 is a rear elevation of the device shown in Figs. 1S and 19. Fig. 21 isadetail, partly in x5' section, showing the cooperation of the pis- 'zo moved forward slightly, relieving the engagementof the ekt-ractors.- Fig. 23 isan end view of the device show-n in Fig. 21 as seen from the left of said figure. Fig. 24 is a section along,r the line 24 24 of Fig. 22 and looking in Fig. 25 is a side elevation of the reciprocating piston by means of which the gun is operated. Fig. 26 is a plan View *of the piston shown in Fig. 25,. Fig.i27 represents the detachable cover for 3o the discharge-opening for the empty shell,

which serves to deflect the shell downward. Fig. 28 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 27. Fig. 29 is a section along -the line 2929 of Figs. 27 and 28. and looking inthe Fig. 30 is a detail view showing in perspective the screw-pin for holding the shell-deflectaor in place on the gun. spective the pin for holding the breech-cover Fig; 32 is a perspective view of'one of the extractors as detachedfrom the gun. Fig. 33 is a perspective View of the pivoted stop as detached from thegun. Fig. 34 is a perspectiveview of the cooking-handle used for cocking the gun by hand as detached from A the gun. Fig.f35 is a perspective view of the pin for securiugthe rear end lof the breech cover to the casing of ythe gun. Fig. 36 is sa perspective {v iew of the pivoted ejector for Figs.

37 to 40, inclusive, represent yarious positions aoli-the mechanism for controlling the j frequency of fire as seen from the left othe gun. Fig.' 37 represents the apparatus set for automatic repeated re or volley-firing.

Fig. 38 represent-s the apparatus set forsafety. Fig. 39 represents the apparatus set for singlere. Fig. 4 0 representsthe apparatus in the 'position showingthe return of the deten t- Fig.'41 represents a plan view of the feed-strip for holding the fixed ammunition Fig. 42 represents a section along the line 42 42 of Fig. .41. Fig. 43 represents an end view of the device shown in Figs; 41'and 42 as. seen from the left of said figures. Fig. 44 represents au end View 'et the device shown Figs. 4.1.and 42 as seen Fig. 31 is a detail view showing in per-v -from the right of said figures. Figs. 45 and 4G are a side elevation and plan View, respectively, of the resilient strip used to engage the rim of the cartridge-case and hold the shellsin place ou the feed-'strip until'the said spring is pressed. Fig. 47 is an end elevation, and Fig. 48 is a plan view, of a device similar. to that shown in Figs. 41 and 42, except that the resilient strip is slotted and is fastened and held in place by the heads of rivets instead of traveling in the guideway.

v Referring particularly to Figs. l to 4, A is receiver is screwed or otherwise attached the.

breech-piece B, which is preferably a single forging ottempered and annealed gun-steel. The rearward portion of the breech-piece is formed into the breech-housing I3. To the front of the breech-housing the breech-piece is provided with an interior screw-thread b and the front of this is slightly coned to receive the barrelC. That portion of the breech-piece which proje 3t-s from the front of the receiver is formed into a series-of annular projections b', which provide a lar'ge radiating-surface and assist in absorbing and radiating the heat developed in the barrel by the `powder-gases. The barrel C is a single forging of gun-steel and is chambered and rifled in the usual manner. lt is solidly astheA screw-thread b, and the portion 'which falls under. the radiating-surface is coned, so.

as to be brought 'into close contact with the latter. EVhen the barrel is assembledwith vthe breech-piece, it bears the same relation to theflatter as the tube does to the jacket in a built-up gun, in that the breech-piece resists all of the longitudinal strainidue to the interior pressure of the powdergas, while materially reinforcing the barrel against tangential strain. vThe cylinder support or collar C'is secured to the barrel, to the front of the breech-piece, preferably by shrinkage and by means of the pin c. This collar serves to support the forward'end of the gas-cylinder D. Through the'barrel, cylinder-collar, and

cylinder is formed the port c', bringing the TOO 'sembled with the breechpiece by means of IIO bore into communication with the gas-cylinder, and'which latter may be circular or of other form in cross-section- The cylinder D. is screwed into the cylinderfcollar C', as at d', a coned bearing being formed at (Lto insure a gas-tight joint. To the rear the cylinder engages in a recess in the front end of 'the receiver by which it is supported. The front of the cylinder is closed by the regulator D', which consists of a hollowed plug which registers with a relatively' longscrew-thread (Z2 in the cylinder D. As the regulator is screwed more or less into the cylinder the Volume ot' the chamber D0, winch lies'between the regulator and the headof the piston, will be diminished or increased,

and hence the tension of the gas entering through the4 port c' will be increased or dimlmshed, as is described and claimed in our Patent No. 588,380, granted August 17,1897.v

To the rear of the chamber D the bore of the cylinder is diminished at d, so as to iit the head of the piston snugly. It is while the head of the piston is moving along this portion that the gas acts eiectively upon it.

- Near thc rear end of this reduced portion d is lodged in the receiver A, its front end endiameter, beginningat the shoulder es. shoulder serves as -an abutment for the stop gaging in the reduced portion of the cylinder D when in the forward position, as already shown. It has a longitudinal :reciprocating motion under the influence of the powder-gas from-the barrel acting upon its forward end and the mainspring Z pressing on 'the piston from the rear. Beginning at the front of the piston We find the cylindrical head E', which receives the pressure o f the powder-gas and servesto guide the piston in the cylinder. One' or more grooves e are cut in the head to aid in preventing the passage of gas to the rear: To the rear of the head the piston is reduced in diameter, as at e2, and then vincreased in This F, Figs.1, 3, 5, and 33, which stop engages with it when the feed-strip is exhausted', thus holding the piston to therear independently- 4slot A, Figs. 1, 3, and S.

of the trigger and retaining-lug, as will be hereinafter described. The central portion Qf the piston is fiattened on top, as shown at E2 in Figs. 12, 25, and 2G, and on this plane surface are formed the three cams e, e5, and (See Flg. 2G.) These cams serve to bring i e6. the feed-strip`to the loading position, as will be described later on. On the right side of the piston is formed the ejector-groove E8, Figs-1 and 25, which consists of two portions e7 and es, parallel to the axis of the pistoi.- theinclined portion c and -th'e flaring front portion e". (See Fig. 25.) Beneath the piston is formed the cooking -lng E, against which abuts the head g otr-thev cocking-handle Gwhencockingthe gun by hand. The cocking-handle (see Fig. 3,4) consists of the body G', on which are formed the four guide-ribs g' and the handle G2. The cocking-h'andle is mounted 'loosely in the receiver, the guideribs g' engaging in 'the grooves a., Figs. 1, 3, and 7, and' thc handle projectingthrough the is in' its forward position, the lug` E bears against the head g of the cooking-handle G, and on pulling` the latter the pistou-will be withdrawn to the rear andcocked, if desired. On releasing the piston it flies forward under the impulse ol the mai nspring 7 pnshin g the When the piston cooking-handle before it. When the piston is thrown to the rear underthe pressure of the powder-gas, the cooking-handle remains in its forward position, (shown'in Fig. 3,) not partaking of the motions of thc pist-on.'

To therear of the cooking-lug is the retaining-lug` H, Figs. 1, 3, and 15, which is afsingle piece fitted into a dovetail recess in the unf der side of the piston, I't is provided with a central pivot or stem h to facilitate assem- .-blin g with the' piston.

Within the piston is formed the longitudinal chamber E", in which is lodged the mainspring Z. This spring abuts against the bot- Vtom of the chamber in one' direction and against the breechcoverA2inthe other. Between the rear end of the mainspring and the breech-cover the head of the guide-rod Z' is interposed, the spring bearing against the flange of the head e of this guide-rod and thehead against the breech cover A. This guide-rod is preferably hollow, and its object is to keep the mainspringin line when the piston is in its forward position and the greater part of the mainspring unsupported bythe walls of the chamber E5 in the piston.

Near the rear of the piston is formed the vhead EG, which is bored axially to receive the stem K' ofl the breech-block K. b(See Figs. 1,

3, 21, and 22.) The grooves ewarecut throu h the ,head E* to permit the passage of the tenons k1 at the rear of the breech-block. The

'head of the piston is bored transversely at e2 for the passage of the pin L, which traverses the head 'EG of the piston, the stem K vof the breech-block, and the enlargement M' of the firing-pin' M and controls the motion of the breech-block and firing-pin. The pin Lis provided at one end with the ears e, Figs. 2, Ll, and 25, which are seated in recesses in the head of the piston, their object being to afford a long bearin g against the walls of the receiver and to prevent the pin from slipping roe out of-place during lthe movement of the pist0n. Finally, the head E6 of the piston is provided with cams el?, Figs. 21 and 22, with the object of controlling the action of the extractors, .as will be described later on.

,The breech-block K, Figs. 5,6, 21, and 22, is provided to the front with the two lugs 7c, which 'resist the pressure delivered by the vhead of the cartridge when 'the breech is closed and which act as guides during the longitudinal motion of the breech-block.when opening or closing. When ,the-breech is closed, the lugsJc are-horizontal and bear against the shoulders b2 ot' the breech-piece l5 in rear of the housing B'. .(See Figs. 2, 4,

and 1S to 26.) .When thebreech is unlocked by turning it through ninety degrees about its longitudinal axis, the lugs 7; register with theslots b3, and the breech-block is free to move to the rear.' The lugs then engage in the guidewaysa f, Figs. 5and 6, in the receiver, which prevent rotation of .the breech-block throughout the remainder of its movement.

By this arrangement thc breech-block cannot 45 slots K",

move longitudinallylwhen the lugs k are ehgaged behind the shoulders b2 in the housing l of the breech-piece, and when engaged therein it can only rotate axially, as the con- 5 ical surface 7c3 of the head abntsagainst the surface b3 to the front, and the lugs 7.: abut against the shoulders b2 to the rear. These motions of rotation and translation are controlled by the piston acting upon the breech- Io block through the pin L, which traverses the Stem pf the brocoli-block, passing through the cam-slots K0. When the breech is closed and rlocked, the pistou is in its extreme forward position, the forward surface e of the l5 pistouhead bearing against the annular abutment ks on the brocoli-block, Figs. 3, 4, and 2l and 22. Thelpin L is then in its extreme forward position with reference to the slots K0, and the firing-pin M, which is also zo traversed by the pin L, is in its forward position, its point projecting,r beyond the front face of the breech-block through the hole 7.2, the parts then being in the position shown Ain Figs. 3 and 4. On the piston moving to the :S: rear under the impulse ofthe powder-gas the pin L moves to the rear along the cam-slots K0.'

The forward portion of these slots is essentially parallel to the axis of the breech-bloek, and during this portion ot' the. movement the 3o pin L withdraws the firing-pin, while the The pin L then breech-block remains fast. reaches the 'spiral portion of the cam-slots K, which make a gradually-increasing angle with the axis of the breech-block. jAs the breech- 3 5 block cannot at first moveto the rear, it rotates about its axis, disengaging thelugs 7.: from the shoulders Zfi'andfunlocking the breech. The graduallyincreasing angle which the cam-slots K" make with the axis of the breech- 40 block enables the pin L to exert great power upon the breech-block during the first part of the movement of unlocking, thus avoiding liability to stick or jam. NVhen the pin L reaches the end of the spiral portion of the the block is fully unlocked. The lugs 7:, are then vertical and in line with the slots Yb3 and the guideways a, and the breechblock is in position to be withdrawn. At this time the slots K become parallel to the axis ,o for a short distance, during which portion of the movement the extractors are locked, as will be explained later on. lVhen the pin has reachedpesscntially, the end of the slots, the

lugs 7cm are struck by the rear surface of the head E of thebreech-block and the block is withdrawn, thus fully opening the.- breech.

The firing-pin M is preferabl'ya single piece and is lodged in the breech-block, as already described, and is provided withV the usual 6o point and with the swell 'MQ through which passes the pin L. To the rear of the swell lil' it is prolonged by the part-M2 for the pn'r-v pose of preventing the assembling of piston, breech-block, firing-pin; and'pin withoutpassvingthe latter through the hole in the swell M. For eonveuienee'in assembling this part M2 terminates in a knurled boss m-.

description already given of the breech-block it will be-evident that-the point of the tiringlpin cannot project beyond the face of the breech-block and fire the cartridgeA until tho breech shall have been fullyclcsed and locked. It will also be evident that the llring-p'in will be withdrawn until the point is within the breech-block before the latter can begin to unlock.y 'lhis insures safety againstpremature discharge. It will also be noted that the cartridge will be discharged the instant the breech isclosed and locked and before the for grasping the head of the cartridge, and to the rear of the claw is the abutment 1),which prevents the claw from approaching Loo near to the axis of the breech-block. The projection plprevents the front face ol the lower extrator from striking the primer of the cartridge wllenforciug it .into the chamber of the barrel, as will be deseribedlater on.

The body I" of the extractor engages in and Yregisters with the groove c" in the receiver and b4 in the breecli-piece, which permits it a motion ot' trans-lation, but not of rotation. Below v(the body is formed vthe hook p3,.which engages in frontof the annular rib k7 on the breech-block Kan'd forms the connection between these two"pieces. To the rear of the hofok p3 is formed the U -shaped tang 1?, which engages tothe rear of therib k7 on the breechblock and bears against the rear surface ofA this rib on either sidethereof, as shown at p in Figs. 2l and 22.-- These pointsp4 are 'closer '.lo the frontl IOO to the axis of the breech-block than --the claw p, and hence any longitudinaltension on the tang will tend tomakethe claw approach the axis. To the rear the body of`tl ie extractor is'prolohged into the tail Pi,`wliich isbent inward slightly, as at l, and bears uponnrhe head of the piston.

The action of the extractor-5 will nowbe explained. Consider the pistonto be in its rearmost position, as shown in Fig. 21. of the extractors will bear on the cams eli'of the piston and the abutm'ents 1) will bear against the head of the breech-block. The extractor-s willtherefore be held by means of the three bearings p', p3, and p5. Suppose a cartridge to be in line with and ready to en As the piston ter thechamber of the barrel. nieves forward the breech-block will remain ,fast until thepin L -reaches the spiral portion of the grooves K0, and during this part of the motion the cams el on the piston will liromthe i move forward with reference to thetails of 'rte min 

